Maggie offered the younger girl a smile and sat down gratefully, placing her daughter on the ground to play and a hand on her belly. "Nothing much except this one is growing like a cabbage, as ye can see," she replied, nodding at her big belly. Two cabbages, she privately dreaded. There were twins in her husband's family. She should have considered that before marrying him. (She should have considered many things before marrying him.) It hadn't been like this with John and Hannah. She hadn't been as big and fatigued. But she hadn't told her husband her fear - God, he'd be excited -, and she certainly wouldn't tell anyone else. She still hoped it was just a large baby.

"'ow about yerself? 'Ow's yer mum?" To be more precise: How was her mother after hearing about Lory's 'new job' and had there been any recent developments? She left those questions implied.